Turkey denies access to country for 48 cancer patients from Syria
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, Turkish authorities prohibited the entry of cancer patients from Syria into Turkish territory through the border crossings of Bab al-Hawa, and Bab al-Salama, both located in northern Syria.
An official at the Bab al-Hawa crossing in northern Idlib Governorate, northwestern Syria, told North Press that the Turkish authorities have refused to receive critically ill cancer cases.
He added that the authorities have not scheduled a specific appointment for the patients to enter for treatment. Twenty-nine cases, including seven children, were denied access.
An official at the Bab al-Salama border crossing, located north of the city of Azaz in northern Syria, said that the Turkish authorities have prevented 19 cancer patients, including four children, from entering Turkey through the crossing, without providing any reasons or justifications.
He noted that the decision to prevent the patients came without prior notification to the workers at the Bab al-Hawa and Bab al-Salama crossings, despite having received patients previously.
The source pointed out that over 370 cases are registered at the Bab al-Hawa and Bab al-Salama crossings. These patients are allowed to enter Turkey on a monthly basis for treatment.